Things were happening fast. Phone calls were being made. 

First I thought it was just the prince wanting his dose of attention, annoyed at the fact he got rejected in all ways possible. But after a steady run, making sure the area was safe, a three kilometre distance sprinting he was no where to be seen.

And there was no way he could have gone further if he was running or walking. 

"Nik, do you understand?" I asked. Nik of course who was calm now was on the verge of passing out.

His skin was paler than it used to be, "Do you think he's alive,"

"Of course he is, I promise to you that I will give him to you alive, Okay?" I asked placing a hand on his shoulder. Trying to "comfort" him but that really wasn't my forte. 

"I think, my dinner is going to come out," at that phrase I took a step back wrinkling my nose, he only got through a quarter by the time I raised the alarm but even if it was just a quarter. I didn't want any of it on my shoes.

"Hey," Carter called running up to me with something in his hand, "I have back up near by. I need to go get them, Alex will explain what you guys are doing," I nodded taking it in, "You're going to be okay...right?"

I looked at Nik who was not sitting on the stairs with his head in his hands between his knees, trying probably not to throw up, "Yeah I got him," Carter gave Nik a look before he nodded.

"Soon, I'll be back soon, Alex will let me know of changes, don't call my phone in case it gets tapped," 

I looked over Carter's retreating figure to see Alex and Eden.

"We need to split,"

I nodded, well that was obvious. "I know where the prince is," he replied whic stunned me, "What?" I asked confused.

"He's not taken he said he escaped and called me, I'm going to go get him, Eden will distract them with a ploy and you and Nik get far away from here as possible," he told us the new plan. All the other safety plans we made were down the drain now. 

I checked my back pocket for the gun, check. Spare bullets in my socks? 

Check

I ran my hands over my jeans, adrenaline pumping that finally some action but also caution. Something just didn't seem right. I still hadn't gotten a grasp of who was doing these attacks or why. What were they getting benefit?

And looking at Nik I frowned, why was Jax taken? Well okay he was the prince and maybe they didn't realise that it was Nik that was the legitimate heir.

But then maybe Nik was never going to get a chance to be king, the boy didn't seem keen and his parents were banished out of the country. There was a lot of unanswered questions. 

"Okay, We'll meet you there,"

I gave them a nod turning around when a hand grabbed mine and I halted, "Yeah?" I asked looking at Alex.

"Be careful, alright?" he said and I nodded, something stirring in my stomach with the look he gave me, "I would like to have my sister back in one piece," I rolled my eyes opening my mouth to send him some stupid witty Isandra comment but everyone got shut down when I felt his arms around me.

Awkwardly, a hug, felt so weird. 

Sure his hands were keeping their distance and not squashing me but it still felt weird. And before I knew it they were gone and he was walking away with Eden telling him something else to follow. 

I cleared my throat and turned around to approach Nik.

* * * 

"I'm tired," I agreed with Nik as he walked beside me, at least he was smart and brought a water bottle. What wasn't smart was that he drank most of it by the time we walked seven kilometres and I could fee the change in the air.

The humidity.

I was feeling tired and I coudln't start to imagine what he was feeling, especially since he was complaining he had a stitch which forced us to walk and not run. Damn it Alex, why was our meeting point this far.

I itched to call them, make some type of connection to know they and the prince were safe.

Did they find them? Did they find who did this? Where are they? Are they hurt?

 Something just felt terribly wrong, and as much as I loved to sometimes go with my gut instincts, something told me to screw the safety area and walk back and find them. Run in the direction but they had more weaponry than I had and knew how to take care of themselves

It's just nothing.

"Did you hear me? Nik whined from beside me and I stopped. "What?" I asked, because in fact I didn't hear him.

"I need to pee!"

"Again?" I groaned, this was hard, especially since he needed to pee after ever ten minutes and I had to keep an eye on him. But I couldn't really do that when he needed to pee, "Hurry up, next time you can wet yourself," I said irritated. 

Nik's eyes widened before he nodded rushing to the trees. I squinted my eyes looking around as far as my vision could take me, nothing. But just like every other time he went to pee, I had my gun in my hands, safety off.

You never knew what could come out between the trees.

And every other time I got the same reaction, Nik coming out and them screaming like a girl when he saw me with my gun raised.

"Get used to it," I said as I tucked it back into my jeans waist.

"I can't," His voice was unnaturally high which made me crack a small smile, "You could have killed me,"

"I wish I can," I joke watching his eyes widen before he cleared his throat, "You are joking...right Isandra?"

"Of course I am," I said giving him a wink as I started walking faster. I was sure at this rate we weren't going to make it back in time, and there was no way I was going to give Nik a piggy back like he kept begging me.

"Stop," 

"What? Why?" Nik paused one foot in the air, his wide eyes looking at me, "Is there a mine bomb under my foot. No Isandra I'm too young to die. To hot to not have kids,"

"Just shut up Nik," I said placing a hand over his mouth when he started to speak again.

There it was again, the small sound of a twig breaking. My gun was out and ready and I looked at Nik mouthing something.

He mumbled against my hand and I felt saliva and I let out a silent groan wiping it on my hands.

"What was that for?" I hissed in the softest voice I could whisper.

"Because I can't see what you mouthed, what do you want?"

Oh right that, "Oh yeah, run, and  be quiet, really quiet"

It took him a second to run before he screamed and started to run and I rolled my eyes, what part of stay quiet didn't he get?

I groaned swapping the hand that was holding the gun and sprinted after him, grabbing the back of his shirt and pulling him, "This way Nik, stay close behind me,"

I heard him scoff, a breathless one, "Please I'm super fast like superman!"

* * * 

"Isandra!"

I groaned turning around, please tell me Nik was still running with me. He wasn't. Shit! Damn it what happened to  him boasting he was faster than me.

Tucking my gun into my waistband I ran back, it was so easy to get lost in these stupid woods. What the hell was Alex thinking bringing the boys to a cabin. Isolated yes, but isolated also if we needed help like now.

It hadn't been that long since we were running and I couldn't have set backs like this, I could feel my breathe starting to run out. 

"Nik!" I called out spotting him on the ground holding his leg, what the hell, what on earth did he trip over? 

"A log hit me," He complained tears brimming his eyes as I tried lifting him up, "Nik come on, we have to go," 

We had to meet Alex and Eden, they had taken a different route so we would all meet up again, damn it Carter, where did you go to. Where the hell was back up? He said soon this wasn't soon. I gave a glace at the sky and looked back and I heard the same sound again. 

The sound of a twig being broken, crap they were faster than I thought they were. I looked back down at Nik.

"Come on Nik," I bent down pulling up his jeans against his protest that it hurt and winced when I saw red skin, it was bruising, fast and looked bad.

"How did you not see the damn log Nik," I bit my lip raising a finger to touch it but he pulled his leg back. 

"It felt like someone just hit me with a pole, but I didn't see anyone, weird right?" he asked his laugh turning into a groan as I touched it.

I froze.

"No," I said, it wasn't weird, I believed him. Especially since when I ran I saw no log. There was no way running into a log would give you something of this extent, if I wasn't wrong, I think his bone was broken. 

Nik sucked in a breathe leaning back on his elbows, "I can't do this,"

"You have to, you have no other choice," I said as I placed my hand on his pants, trying to secure it where it was.

"I am going to help you up and then you need to run okay," what are you thinking Isandra, a guy with a broken shin cannot run and you know it. But there weren't many other options. I can't leave him. and I can't take him with me.

There was only one thing I could do, guard him till Carter came back with men and found us. 

And then I heard it. The gun ready in my hand I spun around but I wasns't quick enough and a too strong, too firm arm came around me, Nik letting out a girly scream as warm air was breathed against my ear, tickling the nape of my neck.

"Miss me?"

Nearly over! How can a story be over already, it just feels like I started writing this yesterday! Don't worry, the next update won't take too long and I think 99.9% of you will love me for it xx

If you love Xmas - Check out my short novella "In Santa's lap" ;)

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